The
Uniforms of the Chicago Bears!
Titled “Why Sundays Were Invented” and licensed by the National Football League, we present the uniforms history of the Chicago Bears.
Please note the print visuals shown here on our website simply cannot
do justice to the meticulous detail of the actual print. In addition, the year each uniform was first
introduced is inscribed underneath. Please also note the uniforms print you
receive may have been updated with additional uniforms than what is shown on
the print displayed above.
Click Here to see these uniforms in their photographic Glory!
Click
here to return to List
of Teams and Leagues
Framed Version 1
Framed with our classy multi-grooved black frame and matted in
black with a white accent mat, this is one striking artpiece. Measuring 12 ½ inches by 22 ½ inches with
glass covering, it comes fully assembled and ready to hang or lean. The cost is a welcoming $49 each and there is a one-time $6 discount shipping cost regardless of how many items
you order!
Below is an example of the framed and matted version, which
depicts the St. Louis Cardinals:
CLICK
HERE to view or buy Chicago Bears Framed Version 1 “Why Sundays Were Invented”
at AMAZON.COM
Or
CLICK
HERE to view or buy Chicago Bears Framed Version 1 “Why Sundays Were Invented”
at EBAY.COM
Or
(You don’t pay Sales Tax when you order from our Shopping Page.)
Framed Version 2
Framed with a gold metal frame, this is our “thrills but no frills” version.
Measuring 5 ½ inches by 15 ½ inches with a glass covering, it comes
fully assembled and ready to hang, lean or lay flat. The cost is a welcoming $29 each and there is a one-time $6 discount shipping cost regardless of how many items
you order!
Below is an example of the framed version with no mats, which
depicts the Chicago Bears:
CLICK
HERE to view or buy Chicago Bears Framed Version 2 “Why Sundays Were Invented”
at AMAZON.COM
Or
CLICK
HERE to view or buy Chicago Bears Framed Version 2 “Why Sundays Were Invented”
at EBAY.COM
Or
(You don’t pay Sales Tax when you order from our Shopping Page.)
CLICK HERE to view our Soldier Field Personalized Framed Picture!
Framed Version 3
This is our
Personalized version. Framed with our
multi-grooved black frame with a black mat, there is an opening in the mat to
add your photo. It measures 12 ½ inches
x 27 inches with glass cover—and we make it easy to add your photo to this
fully assembled, ready-to-hang-or-lean artpiece. The cost is only $79
each and there is a one-time $6 discount
shipping cost regardless of how many items you order!
Below is an
example of the framed Personalized version, which depicts the New York Giants:
CLICK
HERE to view or buy Chicago Bears Framed Version 3 “Why Sundays Were Invented”
at AMAZON.COM
Or
(You don’t pay Sales Tax when you order from our Shopping Page.)
CLICK HERE for more detailed information concerning
this super Personalized artpiece.
**************************************
**************************************
Please note all orders are promptly shipped
within 24 to 72 hours.
Additional
Ordering Options:
Please call
us toll-free at 1-800-786-3022 between
10am and
7pm (Eastern) Monday through Friday,
and 3pm to
7pm Sunday with your Visa, MasterCard,
or Discover
credit card order.
There is a
complete 30-day, moneyback
guarantee including ALL shipping.
Customer Service:
Got Questions?
Our frustration-free Customer
Service is available
between 10am and 7pm (Eastern)
Monday through Friday,
and 3pm to 7pm Sunday at
1-800-786-3022.
Or you can E-mail us at greatestscapes@hotmail.com
Click here to return to List of Teams and
Leagues
Here then is the history of the Bears’ Uniforms …
#1.
1920 The Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals (originally the Chicago
Cardinals) are the two charter members of the National Football League still in
existence. Their 1,000-game history began in 1920 in Decatur, Illinois, when
the Staley Starch Company decided to sponsor a football team. On September 17,
1920, the Decatur Staleys, with George Halas as their
player/coach/manager, joined the newly formed American Professional Football
Association (APFA) for a franchise fee of $100. In 1922 the APFA became the
National Football League.
This 1920 blue jersey with tan
colored vertical striping, is a Decatur Staleys
jersey, the franchise’s first year and as mentioned above, the first year of
the American Professional Football Association. But this jersey had
functionality to it – the vertical striping were
actually strips of felt sewn onto the uniform to help the ball carrier securing
the ball.
The 1920 Staleys
finished with a record of 5-1-2, good for second place behind Akron. Interestingly, the Staleys
played only 2 games at home.
The following year, 1921, Staley
Starch Company decided to give up sports as a promotion and gave the team to
Halas and his partner Dutch Sternaman for a nominal
fee. In fact, they gave Halas permission to move the team to Chicago and about
the only thing Halas had to do in return was agree to keep the Staley name for
a year.
Thus in 1921 Halas and Sternaman moved the team to Chicago and played their games
at Wrigley Field. And in 1921 the Staleys won the
APFA championship with a record of 9-1-1 – contrary to 1920, the Staleys played all 11 games at home. It’s interesting to note that from the
beginning of the APFA in 1920 (and the NFL in 1922) right up to 1931, the
league champion was the team with the best winning record overall - it was
actually more complicated than this in some years, but we’ll leave that story
for another time - there were no playoff games; the regular season was the only
season.
After the 1921 championship
season, Halas’ agreement to keep the “Staley” name expired, and seeing as
though Chicago’s baseball team was named the Cubs, Halas thought it appropriate
that the football team be named the Bears, thus the Bear name began with the
1922 season.
#2.
1932 This year witnessed the first INDOOR pro football game, a game that
was played December 18, 1932 in Chicago Stadium because of inclement weather.
In this game, played before 11,000 fans, the Bears beat the Portsmouth
Spartans, thus ensuring themselves of the ‘World’s Champions’ title in the
first ever NFL playoff game.
It’s interesting to note that in
1934, two years after the year of this uniform, the Bears were part of football
history. The 1934 Bears, the 1942 Bears, and the 1972 Dolphins are the only 3
teams in the history of the NFL to go through the regular season undefeated and
untied. Unfortunately, the ‘34 Bears lost to the Giants 30-13 in the NFL
Championship Game, while the 1942 Bears lost 14-6 to the Redskins in the final game.
This then left the 1972 Dolphins as the only team in NFL history to go
undefeated and untied throughout an entire NFL regular season and playoffs.
#3.
1935 This orange jersey with black arm stripes is quite a departure from
previous jerseys, and was so “loud” that stories are told about crowds in New
York booing the jersey. Not the epitome of sportsmanship, but then again, New
Yorkers have been known to boo their own teams too. Note also the black helmet.
The orange jerseyed
Bears finished the 1935 season with a 6-4-2 record, tied for 3rd in
the NFL West, finishing out of the playoffs for the first time since playoffs
began in 1932.
#4.
1943 What a year! Bronko Nagurski
ends a 5-year retirement and at the age of 35, returns to the Bears, plays 3
different positions, and helps lead the team to an 8-1-1 record and an NFL
Championship! In the Championship game, the Bears met the Washington Redskins,
and came away 41-21 victors. It’s interesting to note that much like today’s
college teams, the Bears had to wait four weeks between their last regular
season game on November 28th and the Championship Game on December
26th.
The early 40’s were heady times
for the Bears – in fact, they started off the 1940’s with an impressive four
straight appearances in the NFL Championship Game. They humiliated the
Washington Redskins 73-0 in 1940, they went on to beat the Giants 37-9 in 1941,
then lost 14-6 to the Redskins in 1942. As noted above, they then came back
with a vengeance in 1943 and defeated the Redskins 41-21.
Of note: The 1934 Bears, the 1942
Bears, and the 1972 Dolphins are the only 3 teams in the history of the NFL to
go through the regular season undefeated and untied. Sadly, the 1934 Bears lost
to the Giants 30-13 in the NFL Championship Game, while the 1942 Bears lost
14-6 to the Redskins in the final game. This then left the 1972 Dolphins as the
only team in NFL history to go undefeated and untied through an entire NFL
season and playoff.
Of special note – helmets at this
point still lacked any sort of facial protection. This truly was the era of
‘smash mouth’ football – remarkable.
#5.
1958 By 1958, the Bears are now wearing the colors most of us are
familiar with today – a deep deep blue (so blue it
often appears to be black) with orange accents. Note also how the jersey now
features the uniform number on the side of the sleeves. Despite winning almost
60% of their games during the 1950’s, the Bears only made one playoff
appearance, losing 47-7 to the Giants in 1956. The 1958 Bears finished with an
8-4 record, good for second place in the 6 team NFL West, but not good enough
to make the playoffs. At this point in NFL history, the playoffs consisted of
the Eatern and Western Champions meeting in a
Championship game, except when teams tied for the Conference Championship – in
these cases an extra playoff game was required to settle the tie.
#6.
1963 With an 11-1-2 regular season record, the Bears advanced to the NFL
Championship game, this time against the 11-3 Giants. In a hard fought game
played before 45,000+ at Wrigley Field in Chicago, the Bears came out on top
14-10. This was the Bears 8th NFL Championship in franchise history
– they had won previously in 1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943 and 1946.
An interesting note: by this time
the infamous ‘C’ logo appeared on the Bears’ helmet. A simple but elegant
design, it has continued to the present day although the color has changed from
white to orange, and the shape has changed slightly.
Of note: Inducted into the Pro
Football Hall of Fame this year were three great Bears - George Halas, Red
Grange and Bronko Nagurski.
Halas would go on to coach 4 more years before retiring at the end of the 1967
season – his 40th – with a record of 313-148-32, a remarkable .667
winning percentage. Even in his last year, 1967, Halas posted a winning record
– truly remarkable.
When he retired after the1967
season, Halas ranked as the NFL's all-time leader in coaching victories with
319 wins (regular season and playoffs), a record that stood for 25+ years until
Don Shula surpassed him – but keep in mind Shula coached in an era when teams
played more games in a season than Halas.
#7.
1969 We’re at the height of the ‘Butkus’ era –
Dick Butkus was arguably the greatest and fiercest
middle linebacker to play the sport even though at 6’ 3” and 244 lbs he was hardly the biggest.
This was also the season made
famous by the movie “Brian’s Song” – the true story about the Bears’ Brian
Piccolo and Gayle Sayers. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, hard working running back Piccolo played the first nine
games of the season before being diagnosed with cancer – he died less than a
year later. Piccolo had befriended Gayle Sayers, the Bears premier running
back, and they became roommates and fast friends.
While posting six 500+ seasons
throughout the 1960’s, the Bears also managed to post their worst record of
all-time, 1-13 in 1969. Of note on this uniform, however, is the fabulously
simple but nonetheless handsome NFL shield/crest on the left shoulder –
commemorating the NFL’s 50th anniversary.
#8.
1977 Reaching the post season for the first time in 13 seasons on the
strength of a 9-5 record, the 1977 Bears fell to the 12-2 Cowboys 37-7 in the
first round of the playoffs. A small consolation was that the Cowboys went on
to become NFL champs, beating
Denver 27-10 at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Note how by 1977 the infamous ‘C’
on the Bears’ helmet has taken on a splash of color. The orange “C”, complete
with white trim, still stands.
Of note: After playing at Wrigley
field for 51 years, 1971 marked the opening of the new home of the Chicago
Bears – magnificent Soldier Field.
#9.
1985 What a year! Led by Jim McMahon, Richard Dent, Walter Sweetness
Payton and 300+lb William Refrigerator Perry, the Bears roll to a 15-1 regular
season record. They then crush the Giants 21-0 and the Rams 24-0 to advance to
the Super Bowl for the first time.
And in impressive fashion, “Da
Bears” end a 22 year drought by winning their first
ever Super Bowl by crushing the New England Patriots 46-10. This was the Bear’s
9th NFL Championship in franchise history – they had won previously
in 1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946 and 1963, all before the 1966
“invention” of the Super Bowl.
Note the GSH crest amidst the
stripes on the left sleeve. This is in honor of the late ‘Papa Bear’ George S.
Halas, who passed away on October 31, 1983. An icon & pioneer in the sport
of football, Halas was responsible for countless contributions to the game,
just one being changing the name of the American Professional Football
Association to the National Football League – way back in 1922. He also coached
the Bears for 40 seasons from 1920 (when they were known as the Decatur Staleys) to 1967, racking up an impressive 313-148-32
record, a remarkable .667 winning percentage. And it’s great to know that the
proud Bears’ tradition is carried on today by Halas’ grandson, Michael
McCaskey, who serves as club president and chief executive officer.
#10.
1994 During this season, the NFL and its franchises showcased
‘throwback’ jerseys, or replicas of older uniforms – to help commemorate the
NFL’s 75th anniversary. The 75th anniversary was also
commemorated by the diamond patch on the upper left part of the torso.
The Bears’ jersey showcased here
is a tribute to the Bears mid 20’s uniform. If you’re wondering about the odd
stripe pattern, it’s at least partly explained by the fact that in the 20’s
felt striping was sewn onto many jerseys to help the ball carrier keep a firm
grip on the ball. In this 1994 throwback version, the stripes are simply that –
stripes on a jersey. To help the officials in 1994, one small consolation is
the addition of the uniform number on the upper right chest area. Note how the
Bears’ helmet logo has disappeared – this is because the helmet logo didn’t
begin until the late 50’s/early 60’s.
The ’94 Bears finish 9-7 and
squeak into the playoffs for the sixth time in 10 years, then upset the 10-6
Vikings 35-18 in the NFC Wild Card Game, then fall 44-15 to the eventual Super
Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers.
One other note about the uniform:
If you look closely at almost all NFL uniforms worn from 1991 on, you’ll note a
small NFL shield patch on the jersey’s neckline. Most NFL uniforms added the
NFL logo patch to the neck, and to the upper left thigh of the pants, beginning
in 1991. The only major exception to this practice was in 1994 when the teams
wore their throwback uniforms – in these instances, as is the case here, the
teams did not wear the NFL shield patch.
#11.
2000 The Bears have been quite consistent in their uniform design – see
how little difference there is between the 1977 Bears uniform and this 2000
version. Also of interest is the actual style of the uniform numbers themselves
– dating back to the 50’s, the Bears have become famous for their “rounded”
number style – so much so that you only need to see their uniform numbers and
you know immediately which team you’re looking at.
Please note the great black pants
worn by the Bears in 2000 – a neat look!
One other note about this uniform:
If you look closely at almost all NFL uniforms worn from 1991 on, you’ll note a
small NFL shield patch on the jersey’s neckline. Most NFL uniforms added the
NFL logo patch to the neck, and to the upper left thigh of the pants, beginning
in 1991. The only major exception to this practice was in 1994 when the teams
wore their throwback uniforms – in these instances the teams did not wear the
NFL shield patch.
The late 90’s and 2000 season weren’t
too kind to the Bears – the 2000 edition of the Bears could only manage 5 wins
against 11 losses.
***************************************
The Chicago Bears: “Why Sundays
Were Invented”
Order
Yours Today … and Revel in it!
The Greatest-Scapes is an
accredited business of the Better Business Bureau. We have been a member of the Better
Business Bureau since 1986—and we have an A+ rating. For more detailed information about The Greatest-Scapes, please click the BBB Logo at left. Thank you
The
Greatest-Scapes
800-786-3022
412-781-3022
E-mail: greatestscapes@hotmail.com
Click here to return to List of Teams and
Leagues